Evidence of Poor Coaching

[Patler]

I think this scenario is clear evidence of poor coaching, not just by LaFleur, but by several assistants as well. This sequence has been explained consistently by the coaches, players and observers:

- Darian Kinnard had never played TE before last week.
- He was given a small handful of plays to be ready for as a TE against Philly.
- He had minimal practice for the plays before the game.
- He was used as a TE in the game for just 4 plays, two passes, two runs.
- The second pass play was one he had practiced, BUT WAS USED FROM A FORMATION HE HAD NEVER LINED UP IN.
- Kinnard lined up as he had when they practiced the play the previous week, on the LoS.
- However, because of the different formation, Melton was on the LoS, and Kinnard should have been off.

Result? A 22-yard completion to inside the red zone was called back because of an illegal formation.

Expecting a lineman who has never played tight end to adjust to a new formation for a play he practiced only from a different formation was unreasonable.
- Who sent him into the game? LaF? TE coach? Stenavich? Butkus?
- Did they check with him regarding understanding the "different" formation?
- At such a critical time in the game, why did no one see the error and call time out.

Oh, and the other player involved in the play was Melton, who has not been practicing as a WR. Would any other WR have noticed the mistake and told Kinnard to set up off the line?

Just seems to me the coaches should have been on top of this.

[pbmax]

I think this scenario is clear evidence of poor coaching, not just by LaFleur, but by several assistants as well. This sequence has been explained consistently by the coaches, players and observers:

- Darian Kinnard had never played TE before last week.
- He was given a small handful of plays to be ready for as a TE against Philly.
- He had minimal practice for the plays before the game.
- He was used as a TE in the game for just 4 plays, two passes, two runs.
- The second pass play was one he had practiced, BUT WAS USED FROM A FORMATION HE HAD NEVER LINED UP IN.
- Kinnard lined up as he had when they practiced the play the previous week, on the LoS.
- However, because of the different formation, Melton was on the LoS, and Kinnard should have been off.

Result? A 22-yard completion to inside the red zone was called back because of an illegal formation.

Expecting a lineman who has never played tight end to adjust to a new formation for a play he practiced only from a different formation was unreasonable.
- Who sent him into the game? LaF? TE coach? Stenavich? Butkus?
- Did they check with him regarding understanding the "different" formation?
- At such a critical time in the game, why did no one see the error and call time out.

Oh, and the other player involved in the play was Melton, who has not been practicing as a WR. Would any other WR have noticed the mistake and told Kinnard to set up off the line?

Just seems to me the coaches should have been on top of this.

People keep harping on the play calling, I think LaFleur is deep into his playbook and chemistry set looking for things that will work because he doesn't trust his regular stuff with this year's offense. But injuries are what send Kinnard and Melton out there. Kinnard to at least gesture in the way of run blocking like Kraft. Melton to fill in for Doubs and likely to give Watson and Wicks (both returning from injuries) a breather.

But as you point out, neither were up to speed and the coaches didn't get them there.

[Patler]

People keep harping on the play calling, I think LaFleur is deep into his playbook and chemistry set looking for things that will work because he doesn't trust his regular stuff with this year's offense. But injuries are what send Kinnard and Melton out there. Kinnard to at least gesture in the way of run blocking like Kraft. Melton to fill in for Doubs and likely to give Watson and Wicks (both returning from injuries) a breather.

But as you point out, neither were up to speed and the coaches didn't get them there.

Not just get them there but watch them to see they are correct. Especially for Kinnard, especially when using a formation he had not practiced.

[pbmax]

Not just get them there but watch them to see they are correct. Especially for Kinnard, especially when using a formation he had not practiced.

There, as in ready.

The formation call could have been made by Love. If that is the case (say looking for a motion to detect coverage) then only a TO could have saved them or Melton remembering to check alignment. But his head was probably swimming too.

I am getting the sense they are perhaps trying to do too much. With injuries and a limited playbook, its a tempting path to take.

[bobblehead]

I am much more down on our GM. Consider this, he refused to draft Peyton Wilson because of an ACL issue that never bothered him. He isn't the first player to come along to be missing his ACL. Instead he drafted Marshawn Lloyd because he didn't want those injury risks.

[Anti-Polar Bear]

Those illegal formation fuck ups are on Love. He’s the one captaining the damn ship. It’s his fucking job to make sure the offense is lined up correctly. Love has got to play smarter.

Like him or hate him, ain’t no denying that Butte is smart as fuck as a QB. We never saw any of the illegal formations bullshit from Butte - except for those bullshit calls where Chad Clifton got flagged for lining up a fucking inch too close to the damn ball.

[Bretsky]

I am much more down on our GM. Consider this, he refused to draft Peyton Wilson because of an ACL issue that never bothered him. He isn't the first player to come along to be missing his ACL. Instead he drafted Marshawn Lloyd because he didn't want those injury risks.

WELL DESERVING of the FIVE CLAP !

[Bretsky]

SPEAKING OF POOR COACHING, I have been listening to a ton of Wilde and Tauch lately.

It's no secret Rodgers Constantly audibled out of play calls he didn't like, and sometimes even change the play calls in the huddle. This is per Wilde's interviewed with them both.

It's pretty clear the Flower doesn't have a ton of faith (not saying he's right or wrong) in Love.

Love doesn't audbile much either. I just don't think he sees the things AROD did so I think this magnifies the playcalling shortcomings as well

[Fritz]

I think this scenario is clear evidence of poor coaching, not just by LaFleur, but by several assistants as well. This sequence has been explained consistently by the coaches, players and observers:

- Darian Kinnard had never played TE before last week.
- He was given a small handful of plays to be ready for as a TE against Philly.
- He had minimal practice for the plays before the game.
- He was used as a TE in the game for just 4 plays, two passes, two runs.
- The second pass play was one he had practiced, BUT WAS USED FROM A FORMATION HE HAD NEVER LINED UP IN.
- Kinnard lined up as he had when they practiced the play the previous week, on the LoS.
- However, because of the different formation, Melton was on the LoS, and Kinnard should have been off.

Result? A 22-yard completion to inside the red zone was called back because of an illegal formation.

Expecting a lineman who has never played tight end to adjust to a new formation for a play he practiced only from a different formation was unreasonable.
- Who sent him into the game? LaF? TE coach? Stenavich? Butkus?
- Did they check with him regarding understanding the "different" formation?
- At such a critical time in the game, why did no one see the error and call time out.

Oh, and the other player involved in the play was Melton, who has not been practicing as a WR. Would any other WR have noticed the mistake and told Kinnard to set up off the line?

Just seems to me the coaches should have been on top of this.

I'm going to go all old-man on this one.

I read an article about two years ago that showed that there are more coaches per team in the NFL then there ever were - anywhere from twelve to fifteen, and the Packers often featuring far more. Per Packers.com (https://www.packers.com/team/coaches-roster/) there are TWELVE OFFENSIVE COACHING ASSISTANTS to Matt The Flower. Twelve.

More than one per offensive player. Given that number, wouldn't you think that ONE of them might've either anticipated this or, lacking that possibility, screamed for a TO to correct the error? Something, anything?

You can say they're trying to do too much, and maybe that's true, but it still seems inexcusable.

I'd also like to comment on the Malik Heath situation. I haven't heard much talk of it, but "coach's decision" probably means disciplinary reasons for his not making the trip. One line in the JSO suggested or hypothesized that it could be that Heath was unhappy in his role.

IF that's the case - and we don't know - can we blame the guy much? He blocks and blocks and does the dirty work, and made a big, big catch on the sideline a few weeks ago, when given one of his very few chances - and then The Flower decides to put Bo Melton back on offense, wherein he drops a key (and well-thrown, I might add) fourth down pass.

So, when your receiving core is the walking wounded, instead of turning to the guy who's been doing the work and is healthy, you move your former WR back from being a corner because . . . he's faster? He's a slot guy? Does it matter? The point is, you've got to reward the guy who's been doing the work and showing up. He's not the best, but he can catch the ball a little and he blocks well. He done what ya asked, coach.

But again, this all is based on the supposition that Heath was unhappy with his role. That might not be it. He might be smoking crack or banging the coach's daughter. I don't know.